Ramesseum

The Ramesseum is the mortuary temple of Pharaoh Ramesses II located on the west bank of the Nile at ancient Thebes (modern Luxor). It is one of the major New Kingdom temple complexes and contains substantial sculptural remains and wall reliefs.

Visitors encounter large fallen and fragmentary statues, extensive carved reliefs including texts that commemorate military campaigns, and the remains of monumental pylons and courts. The site is compact enough to be explored on a single visit but contains a range of well-preserved relief scenes and monumental stonework.

Construction and dedication date to the reign of Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE; the complex served as his mortuary temple and as a place for his cult. Over the millennia parts of the temple were quarried for building materials and sections were reused during later periods, but significant ruins and inscriptions remain.

The Ramesseum stands on the west bank of the Nile opposite modern Luxor, within the Theban necropolis area that includes other mortuary temples and tombs.

• Best viewing times: Best visited in the cooler hours of the morning or late afternoon when the west-bank light highlights the temple reliefs and the remaining statue fragments.

What to See#

• Colossal statue of Ramesses II: A large seated colossus of Ramesses II that once stood in the outer court; fragments of the statue remain on site and are among the temple’s most photographed features.
• Reliefs and inscriptions: The temple’s inner reliefs record royal campaigns and include the well-known inscription often called the Poem of Pentaur which commemorates the Battle of Kadesh.
• Hypostyle hall and pylons: The hypostyle hall and ruined pylons form the central ceremonial space of the complex and retain carved scenes and hieroglyphic texts.

The Ramesseum is on the west (west-bank) side of Luxor’s Theban Necropolis. From central Luxor take a taxi or organized West Bank tour across the Nile (ferry or bridge transfer) and follow the Luxor-Qurna/West Bank road; it is about a 10-20 minute drive from Luxor city centre. There is short walking from the roadside/parking area to the temple (a few minutes).

• Visit the Ramesseum early in the morning as part of a West Bank circuit to avoid midday heat and the coach‑tour crowds that arrive later in the day.
• Combine the Ramesseum with nearby West Bank sites (e.g., Valley of the Kings) on the same crossing to reduce multiple Nile transfers; local guides will point out lesser‑noticed reliefs such as the fallen colossus and battle scenes inside the temple.
• Hire a licensed Egyptologist guide at Luxor or at the West Bank piers-many of the temple's inscriptions and historical details are easy to miss without explanation.